21-heterocyclicoxy-16alpha, 17alpha-alkylidenedioxy pregnenes and pregnadienes



United States Patent Oiifice 3,027,366 Patented Mar. 27, 1932 This invention relates to new steroid compounds. More particularly, it relates to Zl-tetrahydropyranyl, 21-tetrahydrofuranyl, 16a,2l-ditetrahydropyranyl and 16a, 2l-ditetrahydrofuranyl derivatives of steroids of the pregnane series.

We have found that these steroid ethers of the pregnane series having the following general formula have high anti-inflammatory activity:

in which X is a divalent radical of the group consisting of -CHOH- and radicals; Y is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and a halogen atom; Z is a member of the group consisting of tet rahydropyranyl and tetrahydrofuranyl radicals; C C is a divalent radical of the group consisting of CH -CH and -CH=CH; R is hydrogen; R is a member of the group consisting of a tetrahydropyranyl radical and 0R and 0R when taken together, form a radical of the group consisting of methylene dioxy, lower alkylmethylenedioxy and dilower alkylmethylenedioxy radicals.

The compounds of the present invention are, in general, crystalline solids and insoluble in water. They are crystallizable from organic solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl alcohol, and the like, or mixtures of organic solvents such as ethyl acetate-benzene, acetone-benzene, or ethyl acetate-toluene.

The compounds of the present invention are prepared by reacting ZI-hydroxylated or 16oc,21-dihydr0xylated steroids generally described in the literature such as J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 80, pages 23389 (1958), US. Patent 2,789,- 118 and U.S. Patent 2,773,080 and having the following structure:

GHaOH in which X, Y, C,--C and R are as defined above, R is hydrogen and OR, and CR when taken together form a radical of the group consisting of methylenedioxy, lower alkylmethylenedioxy and diloweralkylmethylene dioxy radicals with a dihydropyran or dihydrofuran in the presence of an acidic agent such as hydrochloric acid, phosphorous oxychlor-ide, toluenesulfonic acid, and the like. The reaction is preferably carried out by adding the steroid to sufiicient dihydropyran or dihyd-rofuran to efl'ect solution after addition of an acidic agent and stirring. During the mixing, the reaction mixture may become warm. The reaction is usually carried out at a temperature within the range from about 25-90 C. Warming usually facilitates the reaction. The reaction ordinarily occurs within a period of from several minutes to several hours.

The compounds of the present invention are physiologically active, possessing glucocorticoid and anti-infiammatory activity. They can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, burns, allergies, psoriasis, and other such disorders. The others and di-ethers of this invention are less soluble than the parent steroids and are thus suitable particularly in preparations designed for intra-articular therapy and similar modes of administration requiring a delayed action or depot response.

in the present application the term methylenedioxy refers to a divalent radical, bothfree valences of which are attached from the oxygen atoms to the 16 and 17 positions of the steroid nucleus, which oxygen atoms are attached to the same carbon atom, which in its turn, also has attached to it two hydrogen atoms, two lower alkyl radicals, or a hydrogen and a lower alkyl radical. The term lower alkyl radical refers to a monovalent alkyl radical having 1-6 carbon atoms. The term halogen covers bromine, chlorine, iodine, and fluorine. The temperatures are on the centrigrade scale unless otherwise indicated.

The following examples describe the present invention in greater particularity and are intended to be by way of illustration and not limitation.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 9a F luoro 16a,17a-'sopropylidenedioxy- 11B Hydroxy 21 (Z Tetralzydropyrunyloxy) 1,4- Pregnadiene-3,20-Dione One-half gram of 9a-fiuoro-16a,l7a-isopropylideuedioxy-l1B,21-dihydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione is suspended in 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until it becomes clear. During the mixing, the vessel becomes Warm. Petroleum ether is added to the solution until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is separated, washed with petroleum ether, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate, giving 200 mg. of white c-ystals.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 9c: F luoro 11B,]7a-Dz'hydr0xy-16a,21 Di (2 T ezrahydropyranylaxy) 1,4 Pregnadiene-3,20- Dione One gram of Sa-fiuoro-l1,6,l6a,l7a,21-tetrahydroxy- 1, 4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione is suspended in 30 m1. of 2,3- dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred for three to four hours during which time solution is effected, followed by precipitation. The precipitate is separate, and petroleum ether is added to the filtrate until no further precipitation occurs. The second precipitate is separated, and the two precipitates are washed with petroleum ether, combined, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. A total of 400 mg. of white crystalline product is thus recovered.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 9c: F luoro 16a,]7a-Isopr0pylidenedioxy- 11,8 H ydroxy 21 (Z-Tetrahydropyranyloxy)-4-Pregnene-3,20-Dione Five hundred mg. of 9auoro-l6a,17 x-isopropylidenedioxy-l1,8,21-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione is suspended in 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 m1. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until it becomes clear. During the mixing the vessel becomes warm. Petroleum ether (Skellysolve B) is added to the solution until no further precipitation occurs and the resulting solid product is washed with petroleum ether and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. Approximately 206 mg. of White crystalline product is recovered.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 9a Fluro-I]B,17a Dihya'roxy 1606,21- Di (Z-Tetrahydropyranyloxy) -4-Pregnene-3 ,2 O-Dione Preparation of 9ot-Flu0r0-16a,]7a-Is0pr0pylidenedi0xy-21- (2 Tetrahydropyranyloxy) 1,4 Pregnadiene-3,11,20 Trione Five hundred milligrams of 9afluoro-16m,17a-isopropylidenedioxyl,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20-trione is sus pended in 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until it becomes clear. During the mixing the vessel becomes warm. Petroleum ether (Skellysolve B) is added to the solution until there is no further precipitation. The crude product is washed with petroleum ether and recrystallized from ethyl acetate.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 9a-Chl0r0-16a,]7a-Isopr0pylenedioxy-1113- Hydroxy 21 (Z-Tetrahydropyranyloxy)-],4-Pregnadiene-3,20-Di0ne Five hundred milligrams of 9a-chloro-16a,17a-isopropylidenedioxy 115,21 dihydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione is suspended in 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran,

and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The

mixture is stirred until it becomes clear, during which time the reaction mixture becomes warm. Petroleum ether is added to the solution until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is collected, washed with petroleum ether, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. Approximately 200 mg. of white crystalline product is recovered.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of 9a Bromo 11B,17a Dihya'roxy-16a,2l- Di (2 Tetrahydropyranyloxy) 1,4 Pregnadiene-3,20- Dione One gram of 9a-bromo-1l/3,l6a,l7a,21-tetrahydroxy- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione is added to 30 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred for three to four hours, after which time a precipitate has formed. The precipitate is removed, and further precipitation is caused by addition of petroleum ether. The precipitates are washed with petroleum ether, combined, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. A white crystalline product is recovered.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of 11B-Hya'r0xy-16u,17a-Is0propylidenedioxy- 21-(2-Tetrahydropyranl0xy)-4-Pregnene-3,20-Di0ne One-half gram of 16a,17a-isopropy1idenedioxy-115,21- dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-di0ne is added to 20 ml. of 2,3-

dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until, with warming, it becomes clear. Petroleum ether is added until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is washed with petroleum ether and recrystallized from ethyl acetate, giving a white crystalline product.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of Flaoro 11,9 H ydroxy 16:1,] 7OL-ISO- butylidenediaxy 21 (2 Tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1,4- Pregnaa'iene-3,20-Di0ne One-half gram of 90flllOI'O-160L,17ot-iSOblltYlid6116dl0XY- 115,21 dihydroxy 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione is mixed with 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until, with warming, it becomes clear. Petroleum ether is added until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is separated, washed with petroleum ether, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate, the yield being a white crystalline solid.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of 9a F laoro 1 1 ,8-Hydr0xy-1 6a,] 7lZ-Ethylidenedioxy 21 (2 Tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1,4-Pre,,- nadiene-3,Z0-Di0ne One-halt gram of 9a-fiuoro-l6m,17a-ethylidenedioxy- 11,6,2 dihydroxy 1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione is mixed with 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydropyran, and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until, with warming, it becomes clear. Petroleum ether is added until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is separated, washed with petroleum ether, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. The product is a white crystalline solid.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of 90a F luoro 11 8 Hydrant-1611,] 7a-Is0- propylidenea'ioxy 21 (Z-Tetrahydrofuranyloxy)-1,4- Pregnadiene-3,20-Dione One-half gram of 9a-fiuoro-l6a,17a-isopropylidenedi- 0xy-11,8,2l-dihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione is mixed with 20 ml. of 2,3-dihydrofuran and 1 ml. of concen trated hydrochloric acid is added. The mixture is stirred until, with warming, it becomes clear. Petroleum ether is added until no further precipitation occurs. The precipitate is separated, washed with petroleum ether and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. The product is a white crystalline solid.

We claim:

1. Compounds having the general formula in which Y is halogen and R and R are lower alkyl radicals.

2. The compound 9a-fiuoro-16a,l7a-isopropylidenedioxy 1lfi-hydroxy-ZI-(Z-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1,4-pregnadiene-3,2O dione.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fried et 211.:

6 Hogg et a1 Feb. 24, 1959 Burg Mar. 24, 1959 Fonken et a1 Mar. 31, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES J.A.C.S., v01. 80, pages 2338-9 (May 5 

1. COMPOUNDS HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA 